Rotary engine.



B. F. AususxlNE.V

ROTARY ENGINE.

APPucATloN FILED DEc.8. 1915.

Patented Sept. 4, 1917.

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@bho/mmf B. F. AUGUSTINE.

ROTARY NGINE. APPLICATION FILED DECLB. 19,15. lpy@ PatentedSept. 4,19171'.

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`IBEINJ.AIVIIN F. AUGUSTINE, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

ROTARY ENGINE.

Original application filed July 29, 1912, Serial No. 712,136.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept.. f1, 1917. Dividedand this application tiled December 8,1915. Serial No. 65,?74.

To all whom 2f may concern.'

Be itlrnown that I, BENJAMIN F. AUGUS- TrNn a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Bulialo, in the county of -Erie and State of NewYork, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in RotaryEngines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to rotary engines.

In my Patent 1,009,213, granted November 21. 1911, there is disclosed arotary engine wherein is embodied a cylinder in which is mounted apiston carrier rotatable under the iniiuence of an operating Huid, aportion of which is utilized to create an opposing force on the pistoncarrier substantially equal to the non-rotating :torce of the operatingHuid against the piston carrierto counterbalance the same. The cylindercontains an abutment formed to provide a chamber to receive the pistoncarrier. The ends of the abutment arel reduced and telescoped by capssecured to the piston carrier. The reduced ends of the abutment areformed to provide pockets between the abutment and caps. These pocketshave com* munication with the piston carrier chamber through portsleading from the pockets to said chamber. The portion of the operatingfluid which effects a counterbalance of the piston carrier passesthrough these ports and the said caps float or run smoothly on the fluidin the pockets.

In my application filed July 29, 1912, Serial No. 712,136, now PatentNo. 1,199,229, dated September 26, 1916, I disclose another type ofrotary engine embodying the above and other characteristics and, amongother features, I provide the type of engine disclosed in my saidapplication with means in the ports, which establish communicationbetween the pockets and the piston carrier chamber, to prevent theleakage of- Huid from the pockets back into the piston carrier chamberand it is upon said leakage preventing means that the presentapplication is based, it being a divisional application from the one ledby Ine on July 29, 1912.

With the above and other objects in view, the present invention consistsin the combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter `more fullydescribed, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and particularlypointed out in the appendedclaims, it being understood that changesl maybe made in the form, proportion, sizeand minor details without departingfrom the spirit or sacricing `any of the advantages of the invention.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a transverse vertical sectional view throughone type ot engine, illustrating my invention, the water for coolingpurposes being not shown in the rotatable member or abutment, and thesection being taken on a line between one end oi' the engine and theexternal rib on the abutment.

Fig. 2 is a detail perspective view of the abutment.

Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view of'one of the telescoping caps.

Fig. l is a transversevertical sectional view of the invention, takenthrough the engine at a point in line with the external rib on theabutment.

Fig. 5 is a horizontal sectional view.

Fig. 6 is a detailed view showing parts of the Huid forming andcompressing valve controlling means.

`Referring now more particularly to the accompanying drawings` it isbelieved unnecessary to illustrate an engine in its entirety but toillustrate only sutHcient structure of the engine as will enable a clearunderstanding of that part of the invention which it is desired to claimin this application.

The invention consists generally in providing a main engine casingconsisting of a suitable supporting base 10 on which is mounted acylinder 11 which is preferably cast integral with the base. An abutment12 is located in the cylinder and this abutment is formed to provide achamber 13 which constitutes the cylinder proper. This abutment may havea water cooling chami ber 12, the water being supplied by a pipe 12a.The water may be withdrawn from the chamber 12l by way of a pipe 12b,12c

being apipe for priming7 purposes. A

rotatable pist-on carrier 1d is eccentrically mounted in the chamber 153on a suitable axis 15 in concentric relation to the casing cylinder 11.This piston carrier may have a `water cooling chamber 1S supplied withwater by the branched pipe lila. Radially slidable pistons 16 aremounted on the carrier 14 and may be operated after the fashionillustrated in my aforesaid patents or in anysuitable4 manner. Theoperating fluid may be supplied to the chamber 13 for driving the pistoncarrier 14 in any suitable manner, as for instance, after the fashiondescribed, illustrated and claimed in `my said prior` patents. p

llhe abutment 12 is formed on the outer face thereof with a centralcircumferentially `disposed rib 17 which fits tightly within thecylinder 11. The abutment has exterior cut away portions at each endadapted to receive caps 18 secured to the piston carrier 14 by means ofsuitable fastenings 18h operative through the apertures 181 in the caps.rl`he outer face of the abutment is still further cut away at its endsso as to `form a series of pockets 19 which are circumferentiallyarranged about the abutment and extend from a point adjacent theaforesaid central rib 17 to a point adjacent the ends of the abutment.These pockets are separated by ribs 20 extendingl longitudinally of theabutment. The caps 18 are so proportioned asto have a smooth ruiming twith the ribs 20 and each has an annular tongue 21 adapted to havesmooth running lit in the respective annular groove 22 formed in thesides of the annular rib 17 to prevent leakage. Each cap 18 has aninternal animal' ring 23 adapted to run smoothly on the respective outerend of the abutment adjacent the outer ends of the respective ribs 20,whereby the sides of the pockets 19 are `closedby the ribs 20 and theouter ends of said pockets closed by the annular portions 23 of the capsand together with the caps forming closed pockets.

The rotatable member may be driven by any suitable operating fluid, thecharacter of which is immaterial as far as the present invention isconcerned. The means of introducing the operating fluid into the chamber13 is immaterial, as is also the means of exhausting the fluid from saidchamber. However, the means for supplying the operatingtluid to thechamber is shown as being the same as disclosed in my said Patent No.1,199,229, dated September 26, 1916, and the operating fluid issubsequently discharged from said chamber 13 in the same manner asin myprior patent, just alluded to. F .or instance, the main drive shaft 15has a hollow portion which is provided with upper and lower ports 30 and31, (Fig. 4) which are adapted to rotate into and out of registrationwith a recess 32 in the valve member located lixedly within the hollowportion of said main drive shaft 15. The hollow portion of the `maindrive shaft 15 has other upper and lower ports 34 and 35 (Fig. 4) whichare adapted to be rotated into and out of registration with the recess32 in said valve member 33 as the main drive shaft and rotatable pistoncarrier rotate so as to provide for the discharge of fluid to thecompression chambers 37 and 38.

For instance, referring to Fig. 4, and assuming that the rotatablepiston carrier is in rotation, theplunger 39 inthe compression chamber38 is compressing fluid and forcing it through the port 31 and into therecess of the valve member 33 and through the port 35 in the hollowportion of the main drive shaft and into and through ductr41 in therotatable member into the chamber 13 in' the rear of the piston 16 whenit is exploded by means'of a suitable sparking device 42l connected upin any suitable manner with any suitable source of electric energy. Theexploded compressed fluid expands and impinges against the piston 16,furnishing the force or impulse to rotate the rotatable member. lTheproducts of combustion pass out of the explosion chamber 13 through theexhaust ports 43 in the abutment and into the exhaust chamber 44 in thebase 10 and finally out through the exhaust port 45. As the plunger 39moves inwardly in the compression chamber 38 and thus compresses andforces the mixture into the explosion chamber 13, it will be understoodthat the plunger 46 in the compression chamber 37, is movingoutwardly inits chamber, creating a ,vacuum or suc tion for drawing a charge of`fluid into such chamber through the port 36 in the valve member 33 anda port 40 (Figs. 1 and 6) in the axis 15 into the compression. chamber37, there being a duct 41 in the rotatable member for coperation withthe` recess 32 in said valve member and the ports 30 and 34, in Fig. 4,to effect discharge of fluid from the compression chamber 37 into` theexplosion chamber 13 through the duct 41. The plungers 39 and 46 operatealternately to receive the mixture and compress and force the mixtureinto the explosion cham# ber 13. Inasmuch, as the invention involved inthis case is not directed to the means for supplying or exhausting theoperating fluid from the engine, it would seem that further explanationin this connection would be unnecessary, especially in view of the factthat this is a divisional application from that disclosed in my saidPatent No. 1,199,229, dated September 26, 1916, to which reference maybe readily had, if necessary.

Each pocket 19 is connected with the cylindrical chamber 13 by a port 24sorthat the centrifugal force acting on the operat ing fluid will carrythe lubricant therein and a certain part of the water of condensationanda portion of the pressure through said ports 24 into the pockets 19around the outer face of the abutment. The operating fluid will create apressure against the caps 18 which are secured to the piston carrier tocounterbalance the same in the manner described in my aforesaid patentand said application. a j

By introducing av certain amount oflubricant into the cylinder chamber13 the centrifugal force will carry the same out through the aforesaidports 24 into said pockets 19 and the caps 18 will practically float onthe lubricant support in the pockets in the outer surface of theabutment. By this construction I form a support on which the carrierruns smoothly, even though the carrier be slightly off center.

A valve mechanism is disposed in each port 24k so as to prevent leakageof the fluid or lubricant or both from the pockets back into the chamber13. As shown, each valve is of like construction and may consist of aball 2G held normally against its seat 27 at the inner' end of therespective port by means of a suitable spring 2S. The springs aresupported by the removable ported plugs or bushings 29 which preferablyhave a screw threaded fit in the outer ends of the ports 24:. Thesespring controlled ball valves prevent the escape of fluid or lubricantor both from the pockets back into the chamber 13, sealing the latteragainst loss of lubricant so that there is always confined within thepockets 19 a full supply of lubricant.

The operating` fluid in the chamber 13 eX- erts its pressure against-these ball valves 26 and immediately upon the pressure being reduced inthe chamber 13 the springs 28 force the balls to their seats with theresult that the pockets are full of fluid or lubricant or both flush tothe balls and the springs are therefore constantly in a bath oflubricant and thereby not unduly affected by the heat. Thus in the eventthat there is a leak between two adjacent pockets 19 when the pocketsare positioned respectively on opposite sides of a radial piston so thatthe passages leading from the pockets will connect with the high andlowpressure sides of the cylinder, the valves will operate to preventvleakage through the ports 2st from the pockets to the cylinder 13. Thesepockets 19 being constantly filled with fluid or lubricant or both, theresult is that the caps 18 practically float on liquid bearings.

What is claimed is 1. The combination of a cylinder, 'an abutment inthel cylinder having a cylindrical chamber therein, a rotatable pistoncarrier mounted in said chamber, pistons slidable on the carrier, meansfor supplying an operating fluid to said chamber to rotate said pistoncarrier, caps secured to the rotatable piston carrier and telescopingwith the ends of the abutment, the exterior of the abutment beingconstructed to provide fluid receiving pockets between the caps and theabutment, the abutment having ports leading into said pockets, in saidports.

2. A rotary engine including in combination, an abutment having acylindrical chamber therein, a rotatable member in said chamber, capsconnected to said rotatable member and having running contact with theabutment, means for supplying an operating fluid to said chamber foroperating the rotatable member, said abutment having pockets formed inits outer face, and valved passages leading from the interior of theabutment to said pockets and operable to permit passage of fluid fromsaid chamber to said pockets and to prevent escape of fluid from the`pockets back into the chamber' so as to provide and maintain a lubricantsupport upon which the caps revolve.

3. The combination of a cylinder, an abutment mounted in the cylinderand having a cylindrical chamber therein, a rotatable member within saidchamber, means for supplying an operating fluid to said chamber torotate the rotatable member, means for utilizing a portion of theoperating fluid to create an opposing force on said rotatable membersubstantially equal to the nonrotating force of the operating fluidagainst said rotatable member to counterbalance the same, and valvedpassages between the cylinder and the means for utilizing a portion ofthe operating fluid for creating the opposing force on said rotatablemember.

4. The combination 0f a cylinder, an abutment in the cylinder having acylindrical chamber therein, a rotatable piston carrier mounted in saidchamber, caps connected to the carrier and telescoping with the ends ofthe abutment, the abutment and the caps being constructed to providefluid receiving pockets between the caps and the abutment, and aplurality of independent valved ports establishing coimnunicationbetween said chamber and said pockets to permit passage of' fluid fromthe chamber to said pockets and to prevent escape of fluid from thepockets back into the chamber.

5. The combination of a fixed member having a cylindrical chambertherein, a rotatable member within the fixed member, means for supplyingan operating fluid to said chamber to operate the rotatable member, afluid pressure means to oppose and counterbalance the non-rotatingforces of the operating fluid on said rotatable member, and valvedpassages between the cylinder and said opposing fluid pressure means.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

BENJAMIN F. AUGUSTINE.

and valves disposed Copies of this patent may be obtained for five centseach, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

